Chu Yang Lak Mountain is located along Highway 27 near Lien Son town, Lak district, in Chu Yang Sin National Park, Dak Lak. Chu Yang Lak Peak is about 1,700 m high, one of the great cloud hunting locations in the Central Highlands.
One day at the end of the year, we took the night bus from Ho Chi Minh City and got off at Yang Tao intersection on Highway 27 early in the morning, gathered for breakfast and stopped at the market to prepare more food.
At 7:30, the guide group led by Mame - a tall, dark-skinned ethnic youth - appeared. We had to ride a tractor from Highway 27 to the foot of the mountain.
Before going up the mountain, the clothes were still clean and the atmosphere was great.
Cross the rich forest areas
In the mountain system in Chu Yang Sin National Park, Chu Yang Lak peak is not very high but has a clear view, overlooking Lien Son town and Lak lake. The vegetation here is also very rich. Along the journey, we passed through low-leaf bush forest, pine forest and tropical primeval forest at different heights. Therefore, although there is “only one slope”, we were quite excited by the constantly changing landscape, not at all boring.
Cross the stream at the foot of the mountain
Start on the slope
Across the low leafy bush…
But the slope in Chu Yang Lak is really uncomfortable, it just keeps going up, making our legs tired quickly. It was not until noon that we passed the low-leaf forest area. The girls in the group exclaimed, rushing to the colorful yellow flower bushes next to the trail. “Thrush flowers, thrush leaves!” - Mame quickly warned. Oh, so in the forest, most of the poisonous things are … very eye-catching.
Roadside bushes
After stopping for lunch under a large tree, we continued uphill. Reaching the mixed forest area halfway up the mountain, the slope became quite slippery due to the wet, rotting leaves. The sound of breathing began to drown out the chatter, but then everyone burst into cheers when the group reached the pine forest area: a corner of Lak Lake appeared under the sparse pine canopy.
…there is only one slope
A corner of Lak Lake under the pine forest canopy
Late afternoon, we left the pine forest. Mame pointed to the mountain peak ahead - a peak like a hump on the back of a cow - and said: "The warm-up phase is over, now it's time to climb hard, everyone."
The girls groaned, "Oh my god, it's 4pm and we're just getting past the warm-up?"
Destination: that "cow hump"
Mame immediately urged everyone to get going as we were already behind schedule. We had to go through a few steep slopes before we could enter the primeval forest area.
In the late afternoon, the forest was quite dark because the canopy blocked the last rays of the day. The steep ground, tangled with tree roots, made it difficult to see the path. Without the help of local guides, one would surely get lost.
The road is steep and the tree roots are tangled underground.
As the sky darkened, the group split up. Mame led the “strong team” to the campsite first, preparing meals, while one of the guides would escort the “weak team” behind. I had to turn on the flashlight to light the way for the others to climb up the tree roots.
While resting in the dark, whoever had some remaining cakes and fruits took them out to eat to lighten their backpacks. At nearly 7:30 p.m., the last group arrived at the resting hut, located right at the foot of the "cow hump".
The rain forest was drizzling. A late meal of grilled chicken, grilled meat and porridge in the middle of the cold rain forest was incredibly delicious. Because of the tiring journey all day, we quickly retreated to the tent and hammock to sleep, saving our energy for the next day to climb the “cow hump”.
Preparing for dinner
Sinking in the sea of clouds
Early in the morning, the forest where we camped was covered in fog, the light blue smoke from the fire made the landscape even more hazy. Everyone gathered around the fire to eat instant noodles and warm their hands. Then, leaving all their luggage at the hut, they started climbing the “cow hump” - essentially a giant rock rising from the top of the mountain.
Flowers on the road
Tiny flower buds heavy with morning dew on the cliff
The rock was about a hundred meters high, but we had to take a detour to make it less steep. Clouds covered the entire path, splashing our faces.
When we heard Mame's shout from ahead, "We're at the top," everyone was a bit bewildered, because... we were in the middle of a thick cloud mass, with only vague silhouettes visible a dozen meters apart.
All around I see is clouds and clouds.
The feeling of being in a space covered by cold, wet clouds was indescribable. Everyone sat on the edge of a ledge at the top, waiting for the moment when the clouds parted to look at the plains below.
Then in a moment, the strong winds blew a hole in the cloud mass covering the mountain top. Everyone cheered with joy as a corner of the plain below appeared through the gap the wind had created. The moment was short, but the feeling remained in each of us forever.
A corner of the plain below appears for a moment between the "hole" in the sea of clouds.
Take advantage of "working"
Chu Yang Lak peak covered in clouds
After half an hour on top of Chu Yang Lak, we returned to pack up our luggage and dispose of trash, then went down the mountain. Because it had rained all night, Mame led the group down by a different, easier route - of course, the road would be much longer - to avoid danger.
It was not until dark that we reached the foot of the mountain, ending a very arduous but exciting journey.
Some things to note
- To go there and back, you can take the Hoa Liem bus from Mien Dong Bus Station (HCMC) departing at 10pm, getting off at Yang Tao intersection on National Highway 27 (at around 5am the next morning). Return in the opposite direction.
- Although Chu Yang Lak peak is located on the edge of Chu Yan Sin National Park, climbing the mountain still requires permission from the National Park Management Board.
- The road to the top of Chu Yang Lak has many very steep sections, so avoid going on rainy days because it will be very difficult and dangerous. The best time to go is from October to May of the following year.
- You should prepare gloves with abrasive material to increase adhesion, because there will be many steep sections that require both leg and arm strength to move forward.
